Caitlin Clark continues to draw massive crowds, television ratings and, now, All-Star votes. But inside the WNBA, the sentiment around the Indiana Fever rookie is far more complicated.
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Clark earned a record-setting 1.29 million fan votes for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, the most ever for a player in league history. That was good enough to make her one of two captains for the July 19 showcase in Indianapolis. The other is Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, who finished second in the fan vote.
But while the public can't seem to get enough of Clark, her fellow players sent a different message. In the player vote, Clark finished ninth among guards. She wasn't even the top vote-getter on her own team — that was Kelsey Mitchell, who placed sixth.
Caitlin Clark was voted first by fans, third by media, and NINTH by players for All-Star voting š¤Æ pic.twitter.com/MMd1WiTrB3
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) July 1, 2025
The results created anger and debate on social media. And that's putting it gently. For instance, the noticeable snub in the player vote didn't sit well with longtime ESPN analyst Dick Vitale, who came to Clark's defense in a fiery post on social media.
"Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY that @WNBA players voted Caitlin Clark the 9th best guard," Vitale wrote. "Someday they'll realize what she has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA — chartered planes, increase in salaries, sold out crowds, improved TV ratings."
Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY that ā¦@WNBAā© players voted Caitlin Clark the 9 th best guard . Some day they will realize what she Has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA . Charted planes - increase in salaries-sold out crowds - improved TV Ratings https://t.co/TwGj1DtQMU
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 1, 2025
The final All-Star selections are determined by a weighted system: 50% fan vote, 25% player vote, 25% media vote. The media slotted Clark third, behind Allisha Gray of Atlanta and New York's Sabrina Ionescu. The combined scores put Clark in a tie for second among guards with Ionescu.
The numbers only add fuel to an ongoing divide. Clark's popularity is unmatched, but some within the league don't appear ready to embrace her just yet.
Multiple others also weighed in.
I've been watching this for months and listening to sports commentators as well.Ā The fact is that Caitlin Clark is being mistreated in the WNBA by too many players (obviously, not all and not even a majority) and it appears to be based on racial animus and is shameful.Ā Moreā¦
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) July 1, 2025
Clark has played in only nine of the Fever's 16 games due to injuries — a quad strain in May and a groin issue that's kept her out of the past two games. She's questionable for Tuesday night's Commissioner's Cup Final against Minnesota. When available, she's averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting just under 30% from beyond the arc.
The players voted Caitlin Clark the 9th BEST GUARD?!?! Stop hating. pic.twitter.com/NeJSHG5LAa
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 1, 2025
Her most memorable performances so far include a 32-point, nine-assist outing against the Liberty on June 14, and a triple-double in her season debut against the Sky. Based on current stats, she would rank 11th in the league in scoring and second in assists if she had enough games played to qualify.
Like it or not, Clark's presence is changing the WNBA. She'll be front and center when the league gathers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse later this month. Whether the respect from her peers eventually catches up remains to be seen.
